MASTER SOLVERS’ CLUB
A FEATURE FROM THE BRIDGE WORLD
Both sides are
vulnerable. You’re the
dealer and Pass. West,
on your left, opens 1♠.
Partner overcalls 2♣.
East, on your right,
responds 2♠ and the
auction is back to you.
1♠
2♣
n
w
e
s
2♠
♠ A 10 7 3
♥ K 10 2
♦ J 9 8 3 2
♣ Q
PASS ?
COVER THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE WHEN CHOOSING YOUR CALL.
THEN COMPARE YOUR DECISION WITH THE EXPERTS.
Jeff Rubens, Director of this Master
Solvers’ Club wrote: If there is a good
action here, I can’t find it. Many
panelists picked the least-disliked call.
Even my usual fallbacks don’t seem to
help. For example, the slogan, ‘when
in doubt, raise’ doesn’t seem practical
when it requires raising immediately
with only the singleton ♣Q.
Interestingly there were experts who
actually did raise to 3♣. Let’s consider
some of the reasons for this bid.
Bart Bramley: 3♣. Hoping to push
them up. Double is for those who
like to watch partner play in a threethree heart fit.
John Swanson: 3♣. Defending
against 2♠ is not to be considered,
and a venture into no-trump is
unappealing with a likely four spade
losers.
The most popular choice was pass.
It’s said that in the modern approach,
bridge is a bidder’s game so it will
be interesting to see why these experts
decided to pass after partner made a
vulnerable overcall at the two level.
Ralph Katz: Pass. If partner can’t
reopen, it might be worth a lot of
matchpoints to get a plus against 2♠
or not to go minus 200 if we get into
the auction and go down.
Phillip Alder: Pass. I considered
2NT but was dissuaded by the
inflexible singleton ♣Q.
Billy Eisenberg: Pass. We might get
a plus score for defeating 2♠ and I
4
VUL:
BOTH
DLR:
SOUTH
don’t want to convert it to a minus
by going down in a contract.
Raising partner’s clubs with the
singleton ♣Q is a tough decision.
Passing with 10 high-card points
and a distribution point for the fifth
diamond after partner overcalls could
also not be the best call. The hand isn’t
balanced, but it’s almost balanced. If
a diamond was a club, one change, it
would be balanced.
2NT was the second most popular
choice. Here’s the rationale.
Danny Kleinman: 2NT. A filler, a
stopper-and-a-half, and some bits
and pieces on the side: What more
do I need to seek the most likely
game?
Eric Kokish: 2NT. The ♣Q could be
huge—-or not. North can retreat to
3♣, which I’ll be happy to pass.
David Berkowitz: 2NT. Giving full
weight, and then some to the ♣Q,
but secretly hoping partner bids
something. Too much strength to
pass.
Fleisher & Friesner: 2NT. If partner
has a minimum in high cards, at this
vulnerability he will almost certainly
have six decent clubs and will retreat
to 3♣, which rates to make. With
extras or a potentially running club
suit, North will raise to 3NT, which
will be a good contract a significant
part of the time, sometimes on overall
power, sometimes with nine running
tricks. A double would suggest four
AUDREY GRANT’S BETTER BRIDGE JULY / AUGUST 2016
hearts; a raise will miss a very good
3NT far too often.
Some panelists chose to Double in
spite of having only three hearts. Here
are their opinions.
Boye Brogeland: Double. Normally
indicates at least four hearts, but
I hope that something good will
happen.
Harry Steiner: Double. I might
lose my gamble if partner bids 3♥
but we might make it. Not 2NT,
because the singleton ♣Q might
make transportation very difficult,
and there is a threat in spades. Too
strong to pass.
BETTER BRIDGE CONCLUSION
Pass. 3♣ is a bit adventuresome with
most partners when you only have
singleton. 2NT when you know
they’re going to attack spades means
you have to get your eight tricks
right away. Double might get you to
a 4-3 or 3-3 heart. The auction isn’t
over. Partner could bid again after I
pass and I’ll get another chance.
pass
2nt
3♣
double
= 10 votes
= 8 votes
= 6 votes
= 3 votes
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